Inflatable device for antenna,support,and lifting



Dec. 16, 1969 J. c. B'ELL ET AL 3,484,788

INFLATABLE DEVICE FOR ANTENNA, SUPPORT, AND LIFTING Filed Nov. 7, 1966 3Sheets-Sheet l IO/ u u IO l0 /28 iig 5 l6 Fla-2 F/6J-3 FIG.- 4

I r 22\ 24 2o l/VVE/V TORS JAMES C. BELL JAMES K. JARVIS Dec. 16,1969,B-E. l ET'AL I 3,484,788

INFLATABLE DEVICE FOR AII'TEIRIA SUPPORT, AND LIFTING Filed Nov. 7, 19663 Sheets-Sheet. 2

JAMES c. BELL JAMES K. JARVIS Dec.- 16, 1969 J. c. BELL. ET ALINFLATABLE DEVICE FOR ANTENNA, SUPPORT, AND LIFTING Filed Nov. '7. 19663 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JAMES C. BELL JAMES K. JARV/S ATTOR/VE IUnited States Patent 0 3,484,788 INFLATABLE DEVICE FOR ANTENNA, SUPPORT,AND LIFTING James C. Bell and James K. Jarvis, Uniontown, Ohio, as-

signors to Goodyear Aerospace Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,497 Int. Cl. Hillq 1/08 US.Cl. 343880 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionrelates to an inflatable fabric cone or cylinder serving as an antenna,or as supporting means or as a lifting means, or the like, andcharacterized by substantially complete retraction into a very smallunit upon deflation.

The general object of the present invention is to overcome thedifficulties to the prior art by providing an automatically erectableinflatable fabric device for lifting and supporting an antenna or thelike and characterized by inexpensiveness of construction andmaintenance, compactness in packaged state, ease of and variableness ofextension, and rigidity and effectiveness during the erection operationas well as in the fully erected condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination as aforesaidincluding an internal strap or cable, located inside an inflatable.fabric cylinder, which has one end attached to the top of the inflatablefabric cylinder or cone when it is extended, and has the other endattached to a rotatable reel, located in the housing for the inflatablefabric and wherein not only the cable but the collapsed fabric itself iswound up on the reel as the device is retracted into its base assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of aplatform means, and the expandable-contractable support and wherein theplatform means is carried by and on the fabric cylinder support when itis inflated or deflated, permitting antenna or other payload means to beplaced on the platform so as the antenna or payload means can be raisedor lowered to a desired height as the fabric is inflated, or deflated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a silver loaded,prevulcanized latex paint covering for the infiatable fabric cylinder orother suitable coating which permits the fabric of the cylinder tobecome a conductor suitable for coaxial cable, antenna, and likepurposes.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing areadily portable, retractable and extendable structure including a base,a flexible airtight fabric mast secured at its base to the base, a reelrotatably mounted in the base, a cable wrapped on the reel and connectedto the vertex of the mast and with the major length of the mast beingWrapped around the reel on top of the cable, and means for inflating themast when the reel is turned to expand the mast to complete inflationwith the cable extending inside the mast the full length thereof.

For a better understanding of the apparatus of the ice invention,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the invention in onepreferred embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing the inflatable fabriconly partially extended;

FIGURE 3 is a view, similar to FIGURES 1 and 2, showing the inflatablefabric in a still less extended position, with the top of the inflatablefabric beginning to be wrapped around a reel in the antenna housing;

FIGURE 4 is a view, similar to FIGURES l, 2, and 3 showing theinflatable fabric completely retracted inside the housing;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a modification of the apparatus ofthe invention;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional View similar to FIG- URE 5, but taken atninety degrees therefrom;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of an inflated coaxialcable. arrangement;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 99 of FIGURE 8, with the thickness of the fabrics being greatlyexaggerated,

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional showing of support inserts included inthe embodiment of FIGURE 1, taken on line 1t310 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 11 is a cross sectional showing of support inserts included inthe embodiment of FIGURE 1, taken on line lit-11 of FIGURE 2.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, thenumeral 10 indicates generally an inflatable fabric cone, mast, ortapered cylinder, and hereinafter called a cylinder. The fabric 10 ismade of any suit able, flexible, air-impervious high strength, weatherresistant material, such as vinyl coated nylon. In the particularadaptation of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, the fabric cylinder10 functions as an actual antenna. For this purpose, the inflatablefabric cylinder 10 is painted with a silver loaded prevulcanized latexpaint 12, making the fabric 10 a conductor suitable for antennapurposes. Of course, other suitable conductive coatings could beutilized.

The inflatable fabric cylinder 10 is connected to and can be completelyhoused in a pressurized antenna housing 14 which has an opening 16through which the inflatable cylinder 10 is adapted to be extended whenpressure is introduced into the housing. Pressure is introduced into thehousing 14 by a suitable pressure inlet 18 with a pressure regulator 20regulating the pressure flow therein.

Rotatably secured inside the pressurized housing 14 is a reel 22 whichis driven by a motor 24 through motor drive 26. Secured to the reel 22is a cable 28 which has its other end thereof secured to the highestextendable portion or apex of the inflatable fabric cylinder 10, thispoint being indicated by the numeral 30. Also located on the pressurizedhousing 14 is a relief and exhaust valve 32, the purpose of which willbecome evident hereinafter.

In the actual operation of the apparatus of the invention illustrated inFIGURES l, 2 and 3, and with the cylinder 10 completely wound on thereel 22, in fully collapsed position, pressure is introduced into thehousing 14 through pressure inlet 18 to progressively expand and movethe cylinder 10 from the fully packaged or collapsed position of FIGURE4 to the positions of FIG- URES 3, 2 and finally FIGURE 1 wherein theinflatable fabric cylinder 10 reaches its apex and is fully expanded.During this expanding operation the reel 22 simply rotates paying outthe wrapped cylinder and then the cable 28.

When the operation of the antenna is no longer deemed necessary, or itis discovered that the antenna receives the desired signals better at alower height, reel 22 is driven by motor 24 in order to wind in theinternal cable 28. When this occurs the cable 28, attached to theinflatable fabric cylinder at point 30, begins to pull the apex of theantenna down within itself, this process being best illustrated byFIGURE 2. Reel 22 can be stopped when the desired height of inflatablefabric cylinder 10 is reached.

When the end of the internal cable 28 which is secured to the inflatablefabric cylinder at point 30 has been wound in to such a point that theend of the cable at point 30 reaches the reel 22, the apex of theinflatable fabric cylinder also begins to wind around the reel 22, thisbeing best illustrated by FIGURE 3. This winding in process can becontinued until the entire inflatable fabric cylinder 10 is inside thehousing 14 and all of the cylinder is wound around the reel 22 exceptthe base and extending to and connected to the opening 16 in thepressurized antenna housing.

The complete collapse or winding in of the cylinder 10 is done when theantenna is not in use, or when it is to be moved to a differentlocation. During the winding in process, the gas which has been forcedinto the inflatable fabric cylinder 10 is exhausted through relief andexhaust valve 32. If it is desired to again inflate the antenna,pressure is introduced through pressure inlet 18, and the processhereinbefore described reverses itself, with the fabric wound on thereel 22 winding ofl the reel as the cylinder rises in height.

In order to stiffen the inflated cylinder as shown in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings so that it can better Withstand the force of wind, or otheroutside forces, the invention contemplates that flexible, but memoryoriented inserts 70 and 72, as best seen in FIGURES l and 11, areincorporated in opposed relation on the insides of the fabric cylinder10. The inserts 70 and 72 are slightly curved so that the core issubstantially circular in cross sectional shape, and they extend theentire length or height of the cylinder 10. While the inserts 70 and 72are designed to be flexible to an extent, they are made from a memoryoriented material which tends to always lay substantially straight, butcan be rolled up and flattened. For example, some light weight springsteel, or a heavy flexible plastic with memory would be suitablematerials for the inserts. FIGURE 11 pretty clearly shows how the clothor similar flexible non-memory oriented material making up the cylinder10 crumples in on the sides at 74, while the inserts 70 and 72 begin toflatten out so they can be wound around the drum 22.

FIGURE illustrates a modification of the apparatus of the inventionillustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the inflatable fabriccylinder does not act as the antenna itself, but rather acts as aninflatable elevator tower on which antenna or other payload means areplaced. This is achieved by using a platform means 34 which is adaptedto rest on and be supported by the inflatable fabric cylinder 10.Platform means 34 has secured thereto a plurality of side stabilizingrollers 36 and top stabilizing rollers 38. These rollers, bestillustrated by FIGURE 6, permit the platform means 34 to slidably riseup the cylinder 10 when it is inflated. There are also a plurality, suchas six platform leveling cables 40, each having one end thereof securedto the housing 14 and the other end thereof atflxed at point which isthe apex of the cylinder 10. Also secured to the platform means 34 are aplurality of guy wires 42 which are payed out by hand while theinflatable fabric cylinder 10 is rising with the platform means carriedthereon. When any suitable antenna or other payload means 44 carried bythe platform means 34 has reached its desired height by inflating thefabric cylinder 10, guy wires 42 are then secured to the groundproviding the antenna means 44 with 4 more solid support, permittingsaid means to remain safely stationed over long periods of time andthrough relatively high winds.

It should be understood that the use of rollers may not be necessary ifthe payload fits in close relation over the top or apex of the cylinderand has a skirt extending at least a short distance downwardly incomplementary relationship thereto. Such a construction is shown inFIGURE 8.

A coaxial cable 46 is connected to said antenna means 44 and is alsopayed out when the platform means 34 rise up inflatable fabric cylinder10. Cable 46 permits the signals received or sent by antenna means 44 tobe relayed to or from a suitable monitoring device on the ground.

FIGURE 8 illustrates another modification of the apparatus of theinvention already illustrated, wherein the inflatable fabric cylinder 10itself acts as a coaxial cable relaying the signals received to amonitoring device on the ground. In this modification, there is anotherinflatable fabric cylinder 52, located in the inflatable fabric cylinder10. Inflatable cylinder 52 takes the place of retraction cable 28 asillustrated by the previous figures, and one end of the inflatablefabric cylinder 52 is attached to apex 30 and generally electricallyconnected by a suitable electrical transition connection to the antenna,the other end of the inflatable fabric cylinder 52 is secured to themotor driven reel 22. A suitable coaxial connection through the reel 22and an electrical transition connection at 62 then complete theelectrical connection of the cylinder 52. When pressure is introducedinto pressurized housing 14 by means of pressure inlet 18 and pressureregulator 20, inflatable fabric housing 10 will rise until it reachesthe desired height. In the rise of inflatable fabric cylinder 10,inflatable fabric cylinder 52 will also be wound off reel 22. Wheninflatable fabric cylinder 10 reaches its desired height, pressure willbe introduced into inflatable fabric cylinder 52 by means of pressureinlet 54, and pressure regulator 50. A plurality of inflated rings 58hold the proper spaced relationship between the cylinders 10 and 52.Usually these rings will be inflated through holes 60 in the cylinder52.

Both inflatable fabric cylinder 10 and inflatable fabric cylinder 52 arepainted with a silver loaded prevulcanized latex paint 56, this paint 56being indicated larger than scale in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. The paint56 makes the fabric suitable for conductor purposes. The fabric cylinder10 acts as a shield when a relaying of the signal from the antenna meansoccurs, and in an effect a coaxial cable is produced, with the airbetween the conducting fabric on inflatable cylinder 52 and inflatablecylinder 10 acting as an insulating device between the two electricalconducting members.

This coaxial cable effect, best illustrated by FIGURE 9, permits thesignals being received by the antenna to be relayed to the monitoringdevice with a minimum of outside interference. When the antenna is to belowered, the pressure introduced into inflatable fabric cylinder 52 willbe exhausted through relief and exhaust valve 64 secured to inflatablefabric cylinder 52.

Although the invention has been specifically illustrated and describedas an antenna, and as a support for an antenna, the principles of theinvention can b utilized for other purposes, for example, for supportfunctions, for coaxial cable purposes, and the like, within the scopeset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a flexible, air tight fabric mast, housing means,the base of said mast secured to said housing means, a pressure reliefvalve in the housing, means for introducing fluid pressure into saidhousing to pressurize and extend said mast, a real rotatably mounted insaid housing, drive means for said reel, cable means, one end thereofattached to said reel, the other end thereof attached to the apex ofsaid mast so that said cable means extends inside the mast the fulllength thereof when said mast is fully inflated, but wherein when thereel is driven to wind in said cable means, the apex of said mast ispulled inside the outer periphery of the mast forcing the excess fluidutilized to pressurize and extend the mast out through the pressurerelief valve until substantially the entire mast and cable means arewrapped around said reel, electrically conductive material associatedwith the fabric mast making the fabric of the mast a conductor suitableto permit the mast to act as an antenna or a conductor, said cable meansalso comprising at least a portion of an electrically conductivematerial making the cable means a suitable conductor wherein theinflated mast in combination with the cable means acts as a coaxialconductor.

2. The combination according to claim 1 where the cable means isinflated fabric and is covered with an electrically conductive coating.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of inflatedrings hold in proper spaced relationship said inflated cable means andsaid inflated mast.

4. The combination according to claim 1 and including platform meansadapted to rest on and be supported by said mast wherein when said mastin inflated, said platform means slidably rises up the fabric mast.

5. The combination according to claim 1 and including platform levelingcables, one end thereof secured to said housing, the other end thereofsecured to the apex of said mast, said cables adapted to support andlevel said platform, and

antenna means carried by said platform means, said antenna means beingelectrically connected with said cable means.

6. The combination of a flexible, air-tight, fabric mast, housing means,the base of said mast secured to said housing means, a pressure reliefvalve in the housing, means for introducing fluid pressure into saidhousing to pressurize and extend said mast, a reel rotatably mounted insaid housing, drive means for said reel, cable means, one end thereofattached to said reel, the other end thereof attached to the apex ofsaid mast so that said cable means extends inside the mast th fulllength thereof when said mast is fully inflated, but wherein when thereel is driven to wind in said cable means, the apex of said mast ispulled inside the outer periphery of the mast forcing the excess fluidutilized to pressurize and extend the mast out through the pressurerelief valve until substantially the entire mast and cable means arewrapped around said reel, and flexible memory oriented stiffeninginserts positioned within the fabric mast to effect rigidizationthereof, said inserts positioned so as to wind flat around the reel whenthe mast is Wound thereon.

7. The combination of claim 6 where there are two inserts each extendingaround approximately one half th circumference of the mast in opposedrelation extending the full length of the mast.

8. The combination according to claim 7 where the inserts are curved incross section to give rigidization thereto with the mast in the inflatedcondition but are sufficiently flexible with memory orientation featuresso as to lay flat when they are wound onto the reel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,221 11/1963 Price.3,364,488 1/1968 Perenic et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,128,502 12/1959 U.S.S.R.

HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner T. VEZEAU, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

